Discover Pittsburgh's Station Square - Pittsburgh Article

Discover Pittsburgh's Station Square

Ideally situated just across the Monongahela River from downtown Pittsburgh, Station Square is home to a wide variety of dining, shopping and entertainment venues. The location also offers breathtaking views of the city skyline and is home to the Chevrolet Amphitheater, the Gateway Clipper Fleet, the Monongahela Incline and the Grand Concourse, among other attractions.

As a major destination for visitors and locals alike, Station Square is definitely one of Pittsburgh’s most popular dining and entertainment hotspots. The massive, multi-use complex spans 52 acres along more than a mile of the riverfront and is home to about two dozen restaurants, a staggering variety of stores and a few entertainment options.

Full-service restaurants include Hard Rock Café, Buckhead Saloon, the Melting Pot, Kiku Japanese Restaurant, Bar Louie and Joe’s Crab Shack, among others. Retail stores include Hometowne Sports, Fashions & Gifts by Morini, Loova and Pennsylvania Wine Cellar. If you want to take an extra day or two in order to explore everything Station Square has to offer, consider staying at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel and book a horse and carriage ride or a tour through Gateway Clipper Fleet, Just Ducky Tours, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Tours or Segway Tours to experience more of what the Steel City has to offer.

History of Station Square
While today Station Square is all about good times and entertainment, the site once served as the freight terminal for the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad and included an enormous terminal, as well as an expensive freight station, a seven-story warehouse, an express house and a number of other smaller buildings. When rail travel met its downfall during the 1960s and 70s, the terminal became vacant and remained that way for years, until the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation began to develop the site and added a new hotel. In 1994 the hotel expanded and a private developer added what we now know as the Bessemer Court Entertainment District at Station Square.

Today, visitors can still see some of the old buildings on the property, including the Landmarks Building, which dates back to the early 1900s and once served as the train terminal. Today, it houses some of the most popular restaurants in Station Square, as well as office space. An old train shed still remains, however, and houses 20 unique stores known as The Train House Shops, selling everything from toys to cigars.

Finally, don’t miss the on-site amphitheater at Station Square during warmer months, which seats up to 6,000 people! Here, you’ll find a summer concert series that regularly hosts nationally-recognized artists from a variety of different musical genres. Keep an eye out for special events year round, as Station Square also regularly hosts food festivals, children’s programs and other events for all ages.